Recycle and save money this Christmas

Recycling isn't just about putting out your used newspapers and tin cans. We've come up some great ways to go green this Christmas and recycle.

There are lots of way to save money either using things from last year or being clever in the run-up to this year's festivities. We've got some tips to show you how to recycle and save money this Christmas.

1. Ditch the sticky tape

By avoiding tape and using string or ribbon to keep your presents wrapped, you'll be able to reuse the paper next year and save money.

When you wrap your paper round the present, fold it under itself where it joins, so you avoid using the tape. It may take a little bit of practice, but it's easy after a while.
Money saver: £1 for the tape, £5 for the paper

2. Use packing material

If you buy presents online, they're often packed in tissue paper and large cardboard boxes.

Use the tissue paper in place of wrapping paper to save on paper - it's often prettier than some of the paper you buy in the shops anyway.

Alternatively, keep the present inside the box and then wrap the box in old comics or newspapers.
Money saver: £5

3. Re-use your takeaway cartons

Now's the time to make your Christmas dinner a little easier by stashing away your foil takeaway cartons.

Come Christmas day you can cook your veg, potatoes or parsnips in the oven using the trays. No need for washing up - just throw them away after you've used them.

They're also great for heating up leftover mince pies or Christmas pudding or making sauces.
Money saver: Around £2.50 per tray used

4. Make new candles from old ones

We've all got leftover candle stubs that you can't burn down to the bottom of the candle stick. Instead of throwing them all away, you can turn them into new candles - or gifts for your friends.

1. Get an old yoghurt pot and a ball of household string. Make a hole in the bottom of the pot and thread the string through.

2. Make a knot at the bottom and seal around the hole with blue-tack. Pull the string tight and place a biro across the top of the pot. Now wind the remaining string round the pen so you have a piece of string running up the centre of the pot.

3. Get your leftover candles (you'll need about 10 2" stubs) put them in an old tin can and put that in a pan of boiling water. Once the wax has melted, fish out the wicks. You could now add glitter to the wax to make it more Christmassy.

4. Pour the wax up to the top of the yoghurt pot, reserving a bit of wax. Now put it in the freezer until it's hard.

5. Once hard you will see that you need to re-pour more wax to even out the top as this evaporates when it cools. Return it to the freezer.

6. Once dry snip down the sides of the yoghurt pot, turn your candle upside down and trim the knotted end of the wick. There's your candle!

Note: if you have two colours of candle stubs, melt one colour first, pour this into the yoghurt pot half way. Once it's hard, melt the other colour and pour this over the top of the candle for a two-tone effect.
Money saver: Around £3-5 per candle